Nightly love

Chapter 4



Thomas woke with a longing he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since Angela. Closing his eyes he pictured her smiling face in his mind and sighed deeply. He knew he could never have her and even if he could she would not accept him for what he was.

Reaching out for her presence Thomas wanted just to see her one last time before he never saw her again. His eyes flew open. He could not sense her anywhere in the castle. Confused and angry he stormed over to the door that lead back into the castle and threw it open. Ronnie stood there her hand frozen in mid air.

“ What did you do?” He growled.

Ronnie stared at him in confusion.” What are you talking about?”

“ Danika. She is gone. What did you do to her to make her leave?”

Still confused Ronnie snapped.” I did nothing to her.”

“ The hell you didn’t!” Thomas roared.” You couldn’t stand to see me happy so you sent her away!”

Finally understanding what he was talking about Ronnie placed her hands against his stomach and pushed him away from the door.

“ Thomas, calm yourself. She has not left.”

“ Than why can I not sense her?”

“ Because she is not here.”

Thomas’ face became red with anger.” So you did send her away?”

“ Yes,” Ronnie admitted.” But only into town.”

Thomas froze in place.” What did you say?”

Smiling, Ronnie said.” Danika was feeling restless, a little cooped up so I thought a bit of shopping would help her. You know, get out for a while.”

Feeling like a jealous fool Thomas sat down hard on the roof and sighed.” Will things ever change?”

Ronnie knew what he was talking about without even asking. Patting him softly on the cheek she smiled and turned, heading for the door.

Hearing a car pull up Thomas stood up and walked over to the edge. He watched Fredrick run into the castle, leaving the car door wide open.

“ Veronica?”

Ronnie stood and looked at him over his shoulder.

“ Fredrick just got back.”

“ Good, the girls are back. I hope they had fun.”

“ He was alone.”

“ What?”

“ He was alone.” Thomas repeated.

“ Impossible.”

“ I know what I saw,” Thomas said defensively.

About that time Ronnie heard her name being called. Giving Thomas a worried look she ran down the stairs with Thomas behind her, meeting Fredrick at the bottom of the stairs.

“ Ronnie, thank god I found you.”

“ What is it, Fredrick? Where are the girls?”

“ I don’t know. I went back to pick them up at nine as instructed and I could not find them no where.”

Glancing down at her watch Ronnie gasped.” It is almost midnight.”

“ I know, miss. I looked everywhere and could not find them so I came back here. I did not know what else to do.”

“ If one hair is harmed on there heads….”

“ Thomas,” Ronnie said stepping in front of Fredrick.” Now is not the time.” Looking back at Fredrick she indicated for him to leave than turned her attention back to Thomas.” Since your sense are more acute than mine I need you to go ahead and see if you can find them.”

Nodding, Thomas ran back up the stairs, across the roof and leaped into the darkness, flying gracefully towards town.





“ Do you know where we are going?” Jamie asked swaying in place.

“ Of course, I do. The castle is over…. Over…over…” she stopped and glanced around.

Sitting hard on the ground Jamie threw herself backward on the ground.” We’re lost.”

“ No we aren’t.” Danika snapped stumbling over her feet.” I know exactly where we are going.”

After a short pause Jamie piped up from the ground.” I never knew how comfortable the ground can be.”

“ Well, don’t lay there to long. You may go to….” Her words trailed off when she glanced down at Jamie.”…. Sleep.”

Sighing, Danika staggered over and set down beside Jamie. Lying back in the lush grass Danika stared up at the glistening stars and found herself getting sleepy. Closing her eyes she snuggled up to Jamie and fell asleep.





He had been searching the area for hours with no trance of either girls. Growing frantic he landed and knelt down. Closing his eyes he used his inner senses to try to get a fix on either girls. Growling in frustration he opened his eyes and stood up. Nothing! He didn’t understand why he was having so much difficulty locating them.

“ Your emotions are clouding your senses.”

Startled by the voice behind him Thomas jumped and spun around.” Damnation, Veronica! You about scared me right out of my skin.” Taking several deep breaths his eyes narrowed.” Why are you here?”

“ I came to help,” Ronnie said glancing around.

“ Help? You can help by taking yourself back to the castle and wait there.”

Ronnie’s gaze slowly came back to his. Lowering her voice to almost a hiss she said,” I can not be any good waiting back there for them when I don’t know if they are alive or dead and as for you,” she took a step forward.” Worried or not you have no right ordering me around.”

Crossing his arms over his chest Thomas stared down at her. He couldn’t help but smile. He stood almost seven foot and she was only five foot five yet she was the only person ever to stand up to him.

” I’m sorry.” He ran his hand through his hair.” I am concerned.”

“ About who? Jamie or Danika?”

“ Both,” Thomas sneered.

Ronnie glanced up at the sky.” It will be light soon.”

Fear tore through Thomas like nothing he had ever felt before.” What if we don’t find them?”

Staring up at him she could see genuine concern in his eyes.” Don’t think like that,” she told him.” We will find them.”

“ And if we don’t?”

“ We will!” Ronnie snapped getting worried herself.” We have too.”

Thomas suddenly titled his head to the side and listened. Very close but faint he could hear what sounded like….

“ Do you hear that?”

Ronnie listened and sighed.” I don’t hear anything.”

“ It sounds like….” He paused to listened.”…. Snoring.”

“ Snoring?”

Following the sound Thomas walked about ten steps before he spotted the tip of a shoe sticking out of the tall grass. Jamie and Danika were sound asleep curled up together. Kneeling beside Jamie he put his ear close to her nose and listened. A warm puff of air tickled his ear.

“ They are alive, just asleep.” Raising his head he crinkled his nose.” And drunk.”

“ Drunk?” Ronnie gasped.

“ Aye, blind, stinking drunk.” Shaking his head Thomas stood.” What do we do with them?”

Ronnie sighed.” Well, we can’t leave them here.” Looking Thomas up and down she smiled.” Do you think you could carry them both?”

Without a word Thomas bent down and picked up Jamie and tossed her carefully over his shoulder than Danika. Moaning something about the ground being lumpy Thomas settled Danika down by rubbing her back gently.

Nodding at Veronica Thomas spread his wings and flew towards the castle.





Danika awoke to the sound of pounding in her ears. Opening her eyes she groaned than closed her eyes realizing that the pounding was in her head. Carefully sitting up she grabbed the sides of her head and rolled over onto her stomach.

“ Oh my god,” She moaned.

“ Sssshhhh,” came a soft voice beside her.” Don’t talk so loud.” After a short pause she heard Jamie said.” I think I have a rabbit in my mouth.”

Picturing Jamie with a rabbit hanging out of her mouth Danika laughed softly and quickly regretted it.” Please don’t make me laugh,” Danika groaned.

“ I was serious,” Jamie whispered.” Oh god my head hurts. Correction. I have no head. My head has spilt open and my brains are spilling all over this bed as we speak.”

Laughing again Danika groaned loudly and reached over and smacked Jamie across the chest.” I told you not to make me laugh.”

“ Oh great,” Jamie moaned.” Now I have no tits because YOU just swashed them.”

Laughing harder Danika tried to stop from laughing due to the excessive pain ripping across her forehead but the more she tried to stop laughing the harder she laughed. "“OW…OW…. OW…. OW! “ Was all Danika could manage to say.

Sitting up slowly Jamie looked at Danika as she rolled back and forth on the bed, clutching her head and laughing hysterically.” I am glad my pain amuses you.”

Finally get control of herself Danika climbed out of bed and threw on her robe.” Coffee and aspirin should be good right about now. What do you say, Jamie?” She glanced over her shoulder to see no Jamie.” Jamie?”

“ I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” Came Jamie’s voice.

It was about that time that Danika noticed the feet on the bed. Walking around Jamie was laying on her back on the floor with her feet resting on the bed.” What are you doing?”

“ I think I’ll stay here for a while.”

Danika shrugged.” Okay, I am going downstairs.” Patting Jamie’s foot she sluggishly made her way down stairs where the aroma of food sent her stomach doing flip-flops.

“ Oh god,” Danika moaned leaving her forehead against the cool wall.

“ GOOD MORNING, MILADY!”

Squealing Danika clutched her throbbing head and spin to face Ronnie. Steadying herself against the wall she swallowed several times to calm her lunging stomach.

“ Do you have to be so loud?”

“ I’m sorry,” Ronnie said titling her head to the side.” Was I loud?”

Seeing the mischievous twinkle in her eyes Danika bowed her head.” You are not going to let me live down last night, are you?”

“ I have no idea what you are talking about,” Ronnie said walking into the dining room.

Danika followed after.” Yes, you do.”

“ Okay, I do but it isn’t something I care to discuss but as for you,” she stopped suddenly and turned to Danika,” I suggest you not do that again.”

Feeling ashamed Danika nodded.

“ I am sorry to interrupt, Milady….”

Both turned to see Grace, the castle’s maid standing in the doorway leading towards the front door. It dawned on Danika that this was the first time she has ever seen her. She was beginning to wonder if she existed.

“…. But a gentlemen is at the door requesting to see Lady Rivers.”

“ Thank you, Grace. Please escort him to the library and Lady Rivers will join him shortly.”

Nodding she turned and walked off.

Danika was stunned. She had expected the maid to be some crabby old woman in her eighties but instead she was a young lady probably in her mid-thirties. Her hair was blond and was pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head and her eyes were the darkest brown Danika had ever seen.

“ That was the maid?’ Danika asked still shocked.

“ Yes, now go upstairs and get dressed. You have a guest.”

Walking towards the stairs like an obedient child Danika went upstairs to get dressed and found Jamie in the same spot she had left her.

“ Are you planning on getting up?”

“ Sssshhhh, don’t talk. To much talking, not enough quiet.” After a short pause Jamie said,” Yes, I am getting up.”

“ Good because I have a guest.”

Jamie was instantly on her feet. Holding her head she closed her eyes than reopened them.” Excuse me? What guest?”

Shrugging, Danika threw on a pair of blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. Heading for the door she said a few choice words under her breath than disappeared into the bathroom.

“ What’s the matter?’ Jamie asked, trying to see around the corner.

Danika emerged a few seconds later blushing slightly.” I forgot my bra.” Sticking out her tongue at Jamie she headed downstairs to see who had come to see her.

Stopping at the bottom of the stairs she looked around the corner to see a empty hallway. Walking over to the library door she could hear voices talking inside. Taking a deep breath she stepped inside. Veronica looked up from her conversation and smiled.

“ Ah, Danika. I am glad you are here. This is Mr. Black.”

“ Please, call me Joe.” He smiled and extended his hand towards her.

Walking over Danika smiled back and took his hand. Something about the man made her extremely nervous. Goosebumps popped up along her arm, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Jerking her hand back she shivered and sat down.” What can I do for you, Mr. Black.” She did her best to keep her voice steady.

He smiled again revealing several black and rotten teeth.” I have a business opportunity for you.”

Danika was confused.” Are you offering me a job because I assure you, Mr. Black. I do not need one.”

He shook his head.” No, not a job.” he paused and took a deep breath.” I guess what I am saying is, Miss Rivers is that I would like to buy this castle from you.”

Danika raised an eyebrow at him than looked over at Ronnie who shrugged. Not sure where he got his information she scratched her head.” I am not sure I understand, Mr. Black but if you are thinking about buying my grandfather’s castle than someone gave you false information. My grandfather\'s castle is not for sell and will never be. I just moved in and I have no intentions of moving out anytime soon.”

“ I don’t think you understand me, Miss. Rivers. I would like to buy this castle from you. I will give you a fair price. What do you say about...”

Danika didn’t like being ignored.” It is not for sell.”

“ This castle is to big for yourself.”

“ I am not alone,” Danika told him.

“ Surely you will consider my proposal.”

Danika shook her head and stood up.” No, I won’t. I am sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Black but I am not selling my home to you or to anyone anytime soon.” She looked towards Ronnie who was watching quietly.”

Will you please escort, Mr. Black to the front door?”

Ronnie nodded and stood up.” Right this was.” She stepped protectively in front of Danika.

Mr. Black’s hands clenched at his sides.” This is not over, Miss Rivers.”

“ Yes, it is. Good day, Mr. Black.” Stepping back Danika watched Ronnie lead him form the room. Sinking wearily into a near by chair she stared at the spot where that awful man recently occupied. What was it about this castle that he wanted so badly and she knew a threat when she heard one.

“ I am sorry about that. If I had known...”

Danika looked up at Veronica and smiled.” You couldn’t.” She paused for a minute before asking.” Is there anything special about this castle?”

“ Other than it behind your grandfather’s I do not see anything ore special than that.”

Danika sighed.” Besides that. I mean, does this castle have some weird or bizarre history?”

“ All castle have history, My dear.” Seeing Danika’s frustrated look she explained.” Not many castle that were built in the 1500’s or the 1600’s were left standing. Your grandfather’s castle is but one out of thousands that are still standing and in excellent condition. Maybe that is why he wants this castle so badly.”

“ Maybe,” she mumbled.” I have a feeling though their is more to this castle than you or Mr. Black is letting on.”

Veronica stared at her for a while and simply shrugged.

“ Okay, you can play all innocent but one way or another I will find out what this castle is hiding. Watch me. I will.”

Saying nothing Veronica smiled and left the room. Leaning back in her chair Danika glanced around the room. What was this castle hiding? What made it so important that a simple man would threat someone for. Curious to what they were hiding she wandered off into the library to catch up on some reading.





Thomas woke with a roar throwing fragments of stone along the top of the roof and some off the side of the castle. Stretching he breathed in the night air than walked over to a hidden door in the wall and opened it. Folding his wings delicately across his back he walked into the room and located the large cabinet along the wall and pulled out a clean shirt and breeches. Quickly dressing he closed the door than headed downstairs.

Stopping briefly by Danika\'s room he checked inside to see if she was in her room. Finding the room empty he went downstairs and found Veronica coming out of the kitchen.

“ Good evening, Milord. Did you have a good sleep?”

Glancing around he nodded.” Aye, that I did.” He glanced down at Veronica.” Have you seen Danika? I wish to speak with her.”

Veronica stared at him for a few minutes before she nodded towards the library.” She is inside reading and has been there since late afternoon.”

Saying his thanks he left Veronica and walked over to the library doors and stepped inside. He looked around the room and was shocked to see hundreds of books laying carefully out along the floor piled up so high the slightest breeze would sent them tumbling over. Pulling his gaze from the books he scanned the room and found Danika on the floor reading.

She was on her stomach with her feet hanging above her crossed at the ankles. Behind her a fire roared to warm the damp room and rid it of the night chill. She was so engrossed in the book she was reading she did not see his approach until he was standing in front of her. Startled she glanced up, her gray eyes wide with shock.

“ Oh, Thomas you startled me.”

He kneeled in front of her to see what she was reading.” My apologies, Milady. I did not mean to startle you.”

She smiled and glanced back down at her book.” You wouldn’t believe the history this house has,” she looked back up at him.” I have been reading all afternoon and I was amazed to how many books our on this house alone.”

He sat down in front of her.” Really? Like what?”

“ Well,” she sat up.” their are rumors that this castle is haunted but in the books it is said a man walks the halls of this castle in search for his lost love. Centuries ago he murdered his brother in a rage of jealousy and doomed to walk the night alone. He mourns for the love he lost and can never have again.” she titled her head to the side.” It is kind of like the story Ronnie told us.”

Thomas stiffened.” What story?”

“ She told me and Jamie about this guy name Lord Thomas Alexandria who killed his brother in a jealous rage and was bound to walk the night looking for his lost love he pushed away many years ago,” She paused and titled her head to the side.” and he had your name. How weird.”

Thomas smiled nervously.” Aye, but Thomas is a very common name.”

“ Yes, you are right.” She looked down at her book and sighed deeply.

“ Is something bothering you?” Thomas asked softly.

Glancing up from her book Danika smiled and shook her head.” Yes.”

“ Want to talk about it?” He desperately tried to hide the smile that spread across his face at her indecisiveness.

She chewed on her lower lip before saying.” This guy came to see me earlier about wanting to buy the castle from me.”

“ You didn’t sell it to him, did you?” Thomas asked slowly, hoping she didn’t hear his heart pounding against his chest.

“ Of course I didn’t,” She gasped.” Do you take me for a fool? This was my grandfather’s home and he loved it up until the day he died. It is the only thing left I have of my grandfather and no one will take that from me.”

Thomas took a deep, steady breath.” What else?”

“ Well, it didn’t bother me that he wanted to buy the castle, actually it did bother me a lot but something about him struck me kind of......”

“ Kind of what?’ Thomas gently pushed.

She took a deep breath.” Well, kind of disturbing. He told me when he left that it wasn’t over. I am just hoping that he forgets his threaten and his obsession with the castle but I have this feeling that he won’t.”

Thomas’ hands clenched at his side. How dare that man threaten her! How dare he come into his home and make her feel afraid and unsure! How dare he do it while he slept! If he had been awake when he came to her he would of been singing a different tone when he left.

Danika smiled and shook her head.” I am sure it is nothing.” Looking up at Thomas’ handsome face she keep the smile plastered on her face when as a bad feeling gnawed at her stomach.

Thomas nodded.” Aye, I am sure it is nothing.” He vowed silently to track down the man that threaten Danika and made him pay.” Anything else?”

Danika glanced down at the book and shook her head.”